In his Sunday column, Florida Today Columnist John Denton writes that, once again this summer, any bad free-agent news for the Toronto Raptors likely translates into good news for the Orlando Magic.

A year after luring Tracy McGrady to Orlando, the Magic are now trying to do the same with Raptors center-power forward Antonio Davis.

In other news,  Denton also excepts Orlando to resign John Amaechi.

First Vince's contract.  Then Antonio Davis?  What about the Junk Yard Dog and Alvin Williams?  It's already been a roller coaster ride this summer.  And now add Keon Clark to the mix.  Clark is facing a Sept. 17 trial date on a domestic battery charge. The 6-foot-11 forward was arraigned in circuit court on June 11 on two counts after a family member was struck in the face at his Danville, Ill., residence on June 9. Clark pleaded not guilty and was ordered by the judge to have no contact with the victim and to stay away from the victim's residence.  

On the other hand, the Charles Oakley situation is becoming clearer.  Glen Grunwald was scheduled to meet with Oakley next week.  But that meeting has been cancelled.  Oakley wants out, and doesn't want to talk about it any more.  His agent says the problem is "internal issues," but wouldn't say more.

Orlando Sentinel writer Brian Schmitz reports: A former Magic played told him that he showed Chris Webber around town recently.

Also, Magic General Manager John Gabriel is advising the local media that it can ask him whom the club might pick at No. 15 all it wants, but he can't guarantee his nose won't grow to Pinocchio proportions. He's basically guarding national secrets. GMs are not only trying to throw other GMs off track, but deftly they will use the media to leave false trails and create misdirection plays.

Will the Magic take DePaul center Steven Hunter, whom they love, or 7-footers Brendan Haywood, Loren Woods or Jason Collins? Will they trade up, offering rookie of the year Mike Miller to get a crack at a top-five big man? Honest Gabe can't say.

The ex-Magic player who said he squired Chris around Orlando told me to draw my own conclusions. Or illusions.

Toronto ticket prices will go up an average of nine percent this fall.  Almost 50 percent of seats will cost over $62.  Fortunately those are Canadian dollars.  The Raptors had one of the lowest payrolls in the league last year.  They've given GM Glen Grunwald approval to go after their free agents aggressively, and expect to move into the middle of the pack for team payroll in the coming season.  The Toronto Sun's Bill Harris also talks about whether the Raptors will agree to trade Charles Oakley, and Jerome Williams' visit to China.

Tim Povtak of the Orlando Sentinel reports: When Antonio Davis popped up at Doc River's celebrity golf tournament yesterday, Davis, one of the NBA's top free agents this summer, made it clear again  that he wants to play in Orlando, waiting only for the Magic to make him a competive offer next month.

"I can't hide the fact that I love it here," said Davis, who spent the past two seasons with the Toronto Raptors. "I wish we could talk about it now and get it settled. I don't like the uncertainty, but there are rules we have to follow."

However, it will be tough to clear salary cap room in order to land Davis, unless he wants to sign a one year deal for the 4.5 million dollar exception and hope Orlando has more money under the cap next season.

We will have to wait and see if Gabe can work his magic once again.

The Toronto Sun reports the Raptors are feeling increasingly confident that Vince Carter will sign with the team this summer.  The Sun says Carter may not be able to find as solid a combination of ownership, facility, city, management and coaching in other places he looks at.